Jonas studying the central midfield role

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/newc...ing-the-central-midfield-role-72703-31784673/


JONAS GUTIERREZ has revealed he is studying the world’s best central midfielders in a bid to improve in his new role at Newcastle.

The 29-year-old was deployed by Alan Pardew – awaiting news of the severity of Fabricio Coloccini’s hamstring injury – in a more central position last season, and continues to learn his new trade this year.

He admits the switch may mean he appears less “spectacular” than he has been from wide areas, but insists he will contribute to the team effort – and always strive to give “at least 7/10”.

And in an attempt to familiarise himself with the different demands

and positioning of his central role, Gutierrez says he is learning from the best.

“I have never played in the centre of midfield before, or maybe I did a long time ago, but not recently,” he said.

“It is something all players may have to do this season with the extra games.


“My attitude is that I try to play at least 7/10. I try to do the job the manager wants me to do. Maybe I won’t be spectacular in that role, but I know that I will do a good job.

“I try to improve, when I have been given this role I try to watch other players who have played this position.

“It is the most important thing in football – you need to understand where you need to be at certain moments in the game.

“When I play left-back, central midfield, in the No 10 role, I always try to find the best position to be in.

“The biggest thing is that you need to know exactly where you should be because when you are in your normal position you do it naturally.

“So I watch the best players in the world who play in central midfield and look to them.

“I watch a lot of left-backs and central midfielders to learn about them.”

Meanwhile, Newcastle continue to wait for an update on the extent of Coloccini’s latest injury setback.

The United captain is on international duty with Argentina, who face World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay, in Cordoba tonight, and Peru, in Lima on Tuesday.

But he withdrew from a training session on Wednesday after feeling discomfort in his right leg.

With Ryan Taylor and Danny Simpson sidelined, United can ill afford further defensive injuries.

 

He played CDM in our 4-2-1-3. He was awesome.

He's much better in that position, than in LW.

People may not say as good in attack as he was, but he got 4 goals and 4 assists from defensive positions last season.

Plus he was probably the most consistent performer after Colo.

 

I kind of like the 7/10 comment.

I know what he means, but it still sounds a little bit like "I alwyas give 70% for the team."

 

Agreed. He was awesome as a make-shift DM for us... Anything to stop him from doing his outside foot pass though , fails more than it succeeds (if ever). Still, we love Jonas

 

Wonder if he studies the left wing role he's had pretty much no attacking threat since our first season back up in the pl

 

What a top fella this lad is. Was fantastic last season and a big part of why we did so well. Probably sums him up that I was not even surprised to learn that he studies and thinks about his game/positions. Great person to have and very versatile.

 

Actually he's scored around 4 goals in each of his last couple of seasons, and totaled around 10+ assists.

Plus, for most of that time, he was more defensive.

 

This is exactly my view of things, he should compete with Anita and Bigi to play alongside Chiek.

 

Jonas is a great role model for the squad, willing to put in a shift where ever he is asked to play and always gives 100%, but he could definatley do with contributing a few more goals and assists a season. Like Tash says he gets about 4 goals a season where most wingers in top half teams (bar stuart downing) would be looking at getting 7-10 i'd imagine, that said he probably does the most defensive work out of any winger in the league so i guess we can forgive him.

 

To suggest that Jonas needs help playing left wing is frankly laughable. Yes he will not get you the goals and assists Benni will, but there is more than one way to skin a cat and there is more than one way to play on the wing. It depends on what you need and Jonas does what we need him to. We have two excellent exponents of differing types of wing roles.

 

He didn't get 10+ assists

 

Hopefully we'll sign Mario Gotze to address that which would be great, strengthen Newcastle and weaken Dortmund who are the little brother of Schalke and forever in their shadow... like Sunderland.

 

Finally!!! A footballer who doesn't use '110%'!!!

I get what he's saying, that even though he feels he's not totally suited to a central role, he will try and at least keep up with the rest of the team, that he doesn't feel he will shine in this position but will try his best.

Both him and Colo seem to be very open and intelligent players who steer clear of just giving lip service to the fans.